The commercialization of our schools could get a lot worse in the coming months.

Currently, only Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Tennessee, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Utah, Nevada and New Mexico allow advertising on the exterior of school buses. Some others allow ad inside school buses. But more states are considering overturning their long-standing prohibitions on school bus ads in a misguided attempt to solve their budget deficits. The financial plight of schools is extremely worrisome, but turning school buses into traveling billboards for everything from fast food to violent and sexualized media is not the answer.

Please click on the links below to check out the status of school bus advertising in your state (if there is no listed, your state is not currently considering a bill). Then follow the “Take Action” link to tell your legislators to keep school buses commercial-free.

STATUS:As of 2/23/12, S.344 in this bill has been introduced. Keep up-to-date with this bill here.

SYNOPSIS:This bill would authorize a school district to operate a schoolbus, as defined, upon which the school district has affixed commercial advertisements, notwithstanding any restrictions in law or regulation
regarding the signage that may be affixed on a schoolbus. No type of ads would be prohibited.

SYNOPSIS: Provides for district school board policies that authorize commercial advertisements on school buses. Ads that would be prohibited: alcohol & tobacco ads; discriminatory ads; ads that imply or declare endorsement by the school district; sexual material; ads that are not child and community sensitive; false, misleading or deceptive ads; ads that relate to an illegal or antisocial behavior. Ads for junk food would be allowed.

STATUS: As of 1/27/12, the language which would have allowed school bus ads was removed from the bill. Keep up-to-date with this bill here.

SYNOPSIS: Language before the bill was amended: "Requires the state school bus committee to adopt rules that permit paid advertisements on buses." No types of ads – including junk food and sexualized or violent media – would be prohibited.

NEXT STEPS: We'll keep you informed if any other bills in the state propose school bus advertising.

KENTUCKY: H.B. 30An ACT relating to optional school bus advertising.

STATUS: As of 2/22/12, this bill passed the House 67-29 on 1/18/12. Assigned to the Senate Education Committee. Keep up-to-date with this bill here.

SYNOPSIS:Create a new section of KRS Chapter 189 to allow a local school board to sell advertising on school buses; prohibit certain types of advertising; identify annual reporting requirements. Prohibited ads: alcohol, tobacco, political ads and ads for sexually-oriented businesses. Junk food and ads for violent and sexualized media would be allowed.

MISSOURI: H.B. 1273Requires the State Board of Education to establish rules to authorize school boards to lease advertising on school buses.

STATUS: As of 2/20/12, this bill passed the House. Next step: Senate (has not yet been assigned to a committee). Keep up-to-date with this bill here.

SYNOPSIS: This bill requires the State Board of Education within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to promulgate rules and regulations authorizing local school boards to lease advertising space on the interior and exterior of school buses. Prohibits: Advertising containing obscenity, sexual material, gambling, tobacco products, alcohol, political campaigns or causes, public advocacy or lobbying regarding; advertising that promotes the use of drugs or any illegal activity or antisocial behavior; advertising that contains general content that is harmful, discriminatory, false, misleading or deceptive, not age appropriate or otherwise appropriate for school buses, as determined by the school board of a local school district; and advertising containing an endorsement, whether actual or implied, by a school district for a product or service. Junk food and ads for violent and media would be allowed.

NEW YORK: S. 3229 & A. 7701AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to advertising on the exterior sides of school buses

STATUS: As of 2/22/12, both bills assigned to Education Committee. Keep up-to-date with S. 3229 here and A. 7701 here.

SYNOPSIS: Authorizes the board of education of any school district in the state to enter into a contract for the sale of advertising space on the exterior sides of school buses owned or leased by the school district; ads for tobacco or alcohol products or for political advocacy are prohibited; ads require prior approval by the local board of education; revenue retained by the school district making such contract; provisions do not apply to cities with a population of one million or more. Junk food ads and violent or sexualized media ads would be allowed.

STATUS: As of 2/22/12: H.B. 7079: The House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare recommended this bill be held for further study. H.B. 7185 referred to House Municipal Government. S.B. 2183 and S.B. 2184 referred to Senate Education Commitee. Keep up-to-date with these bill here.

SYNOPSIS: Would authorize the school committee of any city, town or regional school district to sell advertising space on school buses, & to negotiate with private school bus carriers regarding the content of said advertising. No types of ads – including junk food and sexualized or violent media – would be prohibited.

WASHINGTON: S.B. 5220AN ACT Relating to advertising on school buses; and adding a new 2 section to chapter 46.61 RCW.

STATUS:New!On of 2/24/12 at 5pm, we received confirmation from Senator Rosemary McAuliffe's office that this bill will not move foward this legislative session! We will keep you informed if the bill is reintroduced in the future. See the bill history here.

SYNOPSIS: Allows school districts to place advertising on and in school buses if such advertising is approved by the school district board of directors. No types of ads – including junk food and sexualized or violent media – would be prohibited.